The latest news about the ENTRY / EXIT system, about to be launched at all airports in the Schengen area, talks about the date when it will start operating from 2025. Does this mean a further delay? We really don’t think so. The target that has always been in the sights of the European authorities is 2025. No wonder they have announced that the start of the ENTRY / EXIT system will be the same year in which the implementation of ETIAS – SEIAV, the application form for entry into the Schengen area for 60 countries, will begin.

The ENTRY / EXIT system is necessarily linked to ETIAS – SEIAV, since the latter is based precisely on EES as one of the bases of its operation. ETIAS will use the information stored in the EES to verify the applicant’s entry and exit history in the Schengen Area. This will help detect overstayers and provide up-to-date information to assess the security risks associated with each ETIAS application.

The integration of ETIAS with the EES and other data systems allows the European Union to:

• Assess potential risks and background of travelers before they enter the Schengen area.
• Streamline border entry procedures by having prior information on travelers.
• Prevent crime and terrorism by checking applicants against security databases.

Can ETIAS – SEIAV be initiated without EES? No, ETIAS cannot be fully implemented without EES (Entry/Exit System), as it depends on this and other data systems for its optimal and secure operation. The reasons why ETIAS depends on EES are as follows:

Entry and Exit History Check: ETIAS uses information from the EES to check each applicant’s entry and exit history in the Schengen Area. This makes it possible to detect whether a person has overstayed his or her permitted time of stay on previous visits, crucial information for assessing the risk of each traveler.
Security Assessment: One of the key purposes of ETIAS is to enhance security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive at EU borders. The EES records biometric and biographic data that allows ETIAS to verify identities more rigorously and avoid fraud or impersonation issues.
Systems Interconnection: ETIAS relies on a number of interconnected EU security systems, including not only the EES, but also the Schengen Information System (SIS), the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS), and others. The EES is the first point of access to entry and exit data in this interconnected system, so without it, ETIAS would not be able to perform full assessments.

In practice, EES and ETIAS are designed to be launched in successive phases. First, EES must be activated and stabilized, so that it begins to collect and centralize the necessary information. ETIAS is planned to become operational a few months after EES is fully operational.

In summary: EES is an essential condition for the start-up of ETIAS. Without the EES, ETIAS would not be able to conduct the pre-assessments safely or meet its security and migration control objectives. Together, ETIAS and EES are part of a series of initiatives that seek to improve security and border management in the European Union, all starting in 2025.